SAP Africa has announced an interim management team for Africa after four management team members were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a forensic investigation into allegations related to one of its contracts.

In a statement the company confirmed the new management team to include: Ashley Boag as Acting Chief Operating Officer; Peter David, Chief Financial Officer for SAP EMEA and now acting CFO for Africa; local ICT industry veteran Pieter Bouwer as South African MD; and Claas Kuehnemann as Acting Managing Director: SAP Africa, to whom the rest of the management team reports.

Kuehnemann said the priority is to ensure the business continues to focus on driving revenue and growth across its local operations. "It is important to us that all SAP staff, clients, and partners have the support they need, and that business continues uninterrupted. We have appointed a strong leadership team to ensure our usual standards of service and strategic support are upheld."

SAP SE announced last week that Kuehnemann will take on the role of acting managing director for Africa with immediate effect while the company conducts its investigation into its South African operations.

This follows recent allegations of kickbacks around the use and payment of sub-contractors related to the #GuptaLeaks – AmaBhungane and Scorpio report.

ITWeb reported that according to the AmaBhungane and Scorpio report, SAP is alleged to have paid a Gupta front R100 million in 'kickbacks' to access state contracts.

The company also acknowledged a statement by the Democratic Alliance, the country's main opposition political party, and reiterated that it has initiated an investigation and would await the outcome of this investigation before commenting further.

Claas joined SAP in South Africa in 1992 and has held executive positions for SAP in South Africa, Europe and the Middle East.